Joseph Addai

Colt," Polian said. "Over the weekend, we worked very hard to make that happen." While the annual average salary of $18 million per year matches Tom Brady's record, Irsay described the deal as cap-friendly throughout the life of the contract. Manning will get paid $69 million in the first three years and, though his salary cap number this season will be $16 million, that's substantially less than the $23.1 million he would have gotten playing under the franchise tag. The benefit of saving that money is already paying dividends.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Colts coach Tony Dungy remains confident with his team's running game, even though it has gained an average of 64 yards in three preseason games. Making that stat look worse is that neither of the two running backs most likely to replace the departed Edgerrin James is even leading the team in rushing. Dungy, however, is steadfast that the team can run the ball effectively in the Sept. 10 season opener against the New York Giants. "I think the running game is really going to be in pretty good shape.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Colts found success last season with a two-pronged running attack en route to a Super Bowl championship - so much so that coach Tony Dungy is intent on keeping the system despite the free-agency loss of Dominic Rhodes to the Oakland Raiders. Joseph Addai, the 2006 first-round draft pick, is back and will continue in his role as the Colts' first-team runner. What's still in question is who will fill the sizable gap created by Rhodes' departure. One option could be second-year pro DeDe Dorsey, who spent most of the 2006 season splitting time as the Colts' third-string running back and on special teams duty after he was picked up from the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad last summer.

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Peyton Manning was poised to turn one of his worst games into one of his most memorable. Then Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard field goal attempt with 1:31 left, and the San Diego Chargers held on for a wild 23-21 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Colts on Sunday night. Manning, who set a Colts franchise record with six interceptions, had driven the Colts to the Chargers' 12. Vinatieri, who had won two Super Bowls for New England with last-second kicks, pushed his kick just wide right.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts opened training camp looking for Edgerrin James' replacement. They left with a long injury list and some unsettled position battles. When the Colts finished a light walkthrough Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Saturday morning, Dominic Rhodes and first-round draft pick Joseph Addai still were splitting carries. Among other players battling for starting positions, linebacker Gilbert Gardner hopes to prove he can replace David Thornton and Nick Harper, Jason David and 2005 first-round draft pick Marlin Jackson are contending for the starting cornerback spots.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Donte' Stallworth joked Friday that he's not sure that Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning is human when he is leading the Colts' offense. All jokes aside, Philadelphia's defensive unit faces a stiff test against Manning and the Colts Sunday in Indianapolis. Entering the RCA Dome without quarterback Donovan McNabb to lead their offense will make it a tougher challenge, and even more so with all of Indianapolis' offensive stars.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The depleted defending champions didn't look any different than the full-strength version. Ask the depleted Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Indianapolis Colts didn't have receiver Marvin Harrison, running back Joseph Addai, safety Bob Sanders and two other starters. Unfortunately for the Bucs, the Colts did have Peyton Manning, who put on a clinic in a 33-14 rout. "I think he's the best," Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber said. "We've been beaten handily before, but he just dissects you. " Manning completed 29 of his 37 passes (78.3 percent)

The news that Anthony Gonzalez had tweaked his ankle was news to Anthony Gonzalez. "I feel good," the Indianapolis Colts receiver said Monday afternoon. "I feel really good. " Asked if he was optimistic he would be available when the Colts return to action against the Houston Texans in a key AFC South clash Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, Gonzalez paused only briefly. "I would be surprised if I didn't play," he said. That wasn't the message delivered Sunday by ESPN.com. One of its NFL insiders reported that Gonzalez, who has missed the past five games with a high sprain to his right ankle, had tweaked the same ankle during practice last week.

occur, though some people heal faster. "The odds are that he'll end his career when he wants to end his career," Hecht said. Manning, who signed a five-year, $90 million contract in July, also had neck surgery in February 2010. This, however, has been one of the most frustrating offseasons of his career. The 4 1/2-month lockout prevented him from working out with team trainers and he couldn't negotiate a new contract with the Colts during that time. He started training camp on the physically unable to perform list, which prevented him from working out with teammates until Aug. 29. With Manning, the Colts have been a perennial Super Bowl contender.

Colt," Polian said. "Over the weekend, we worked very hard to make that happen." While the annual average salary of $18 million per year matches Tom Brady's record, Irsay described the deal as cap-friendly throughout the life of the contract. Manning will get paid $69 million in the first three years and, though his salary cap number this season will be $16 million, that's substantially less than the $23.1 million he would have gotten playing under the franchise tag. The benefit of saving that money is already paying dividends.

The news that Anthony Gonzalez had tweaked his ankle was news to Anthony Gonzalez. "I feel good," the Indianapolis Colts receiver said Monday afternoon. "I feel really good. " Asked if he was optimistic he would be available when the Colts return to action against the Houston Texans in a key AFC South clash Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, Gonzalez paused only briefly. "I would be surprised if I didn't play," he said. That wasn't the message delivered Sunday by ESPN.com. One of its NFL insiders reported that Gonzalez, who has missed the past five games with a high sprain to his right ankle, had tweaked the same ankle during practice last week.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indianapolis' 16th straight regular-season victory will fit neatly into the Colts' record book. This week's game tapes will show the Colts how imperfect they really are. With Peyton Manning out of sync and the offense struggling to score touchdowns Sunday, the Colts turned to a former quarterback -- Joseph Addai -- for a 22-yard TD pass that gave Indy an 18-14 victory and its own version of a perfect regular season. "We need these games if we're going to push toward our goal, which is the Super Bowl," receiver Reggie Wayne said.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Apparently, winning is still too complex for the Detroit Lions. Two turnovers, short fields and playing against a worn down, short-handed Colts defense wasn't the answer, either. Peyton Manning led the Colts on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, delivering another blow to Detroit's psyche with a 31-21 victory Sunday and keeping the Lions on track for a winless season. "No one wants to be part of that. No one wants to have their name involved with that," quarterback Dan Orlovsky said.

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Peyton Manning was poised to turn one of his worst games into one of his most memorable. Then Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard field goal attempt with 1:31 left, and the San Diego Chargers held on for a wild 23-21 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Colts on Sunday night. Manning, who set a Colts franchise record with six interceptions, had driven the Colts to the Chargers' 12. Vinatieri, who had won two Super Bowls for New England with last-second kicks, pushed his kick just wide right.

The Jacksonville game this Monday night looms as a bigger game for the Indianapolis Colts than an upcoming date with the New England Patriots. I should probably define "bigger. " Clearly, nothing will compare with the Patriots at Colts game on Nov. 4 in terms of media hype, morality tales of good vs. evil, analysis of pious vs. suspicious coaches, etc. Even if the Colts have a loss at that point, they'll still be considered the only team with a chance to stop the Patriots' undefeated run and prevent coach Bill Belichick from total smugness.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The depleted defending champions didn't look any different than the full-strength version. Ask the depleted Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Indianapolis Colts didn't have receiver Marvin Harrison, running back Joseph Addai, safety Bob Sanders and two other starters. Unfortunately for the Bucs, the Colts did have Peyton Manning, who put on a clinic in a 33-14 rout. "I think he's the best," Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber said. "We've been beaten handily before, but he just dissects you. " Manning completed 29 of his 37 passes (78.3 percent)